Expansible bracelet



Sept. 2l, 1954 K. E. STIEGELE EXPANSIBLE BRACELET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1952 /nw/zlfor. A M, J'yff/ sept. 21, 1954 K, E, 5T|EGELE 2,689,450

EXFANSIBLE BRACELET Filed March 20. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E: z z: :11111:: l

3 www Patented Sept. 21, 1954 EXPANSIBLE BRACELET Karl Emil Stiegele, Huchenfeld, near Pforzheim, Baden,` Germany Application March 2l), 1952, SerialNo. 277,561

Claims priority, application Germany April 10, 195,1

9r Claims. 1

The present invention relatesto bracelets ofA the so-called expansible type," and.` more particularly hasA reference to` anV expansible bracelet defined by a. plurality on interconnected links andspring means normally urging the links to a retracted. position, yet permitting the links to be moved tolan extended.I position..the invention being.y particularly efcacious for use as a supporting'4 bracelet. for watches and the like.

While expansible bracelets are in the main quitesatisiactory, they do` possess, however', certain objectionable. features. OneV off the most objectionable characteristicsof expansibgle brace.- letsis theiactthatiwhem the braceletshave been expanded or extended, a gap or hiatusexists between` adjacent links or bands whichy tends to detract from the pleasing. appearance of-` the bracelet. Anotheri objection isV that these prior bracelets have been relatively complexin structural detail, requiring numerousV essential working parts, with; the attendant result that they are expensive to manufacture and. in.. addition, Quite frequently require repairy thus materially increasing the `maintenance costs/ofthe bracelet.

Accordingly, an important object, of` the. present inventionV is to overcome the foregoing and other disadvantageous features by providing an expansible bracelet which includes but three cardinal working parts, namely. the individual links, the meansV interconnectingthe individual links, and aA resilient element for securing the connecting means to the links and at the same time serving to maintain the links in the retracted position yet allo-w the links to be moved relatively to each other for enlargement of'u the bracelet.

Still'a further object of. the present invention is to provide an expansibleY bracelet provided withanouter row of links, an inner row of links, means connecting the links ofV theinner rowA with those of an outer` row so that the links ofthe respective rows are displaced or staggered with respect toA adjacent links of theY othery row, so that when the bracelet is es:banded, thev hiatus between adjacent links ofV one row will be lled by theadjacentI links ofthe other row, thereby giving the-visual, effect ci a: continuousband;

Andstill a further object of. the present-,rinventionis to. provide an expansible bracelet of the character deseribedlwherein the means forl oonnecting the links can be readilysecured to or detached-from the links to enablethe linkato-be replacedliniftheevent-a link. crlinks are damaged o rremoved to. decreasethe size of the bracelet.

Yet another object off the present invention is to` provide a ncvelfconnecting member by means of which the expansiblevbracelet can be secured to a watch case or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventicnconsists in the details of construction,` and in the arrangement and combination ofi. parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail,V reference will be had toV the` accompanying drawings farming part of` this application. wherein like characters denoteI corresponding,4 parts. in the several views,V and; in which:

Eigure lv is a fragmental side view, partly in section and partly broken away, of an expansible band constructed in accordance with the present invention, the parts thereofY being shown in the retracted position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the parts in the expanded or extended position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view. partly broken away and partly, in cross` section, of the structure shown` in Figure 1,K the. view being on a somewhat smaller scale.

Figure l4 is a top,V plan view of the element shown in Figure 3, but being onY a somewhat smaller scale.

Figure 5 is a` ViewV in perspective of a leaf spring adapted to be disposed within each link for retaining the connector therein.

Figure 6'is a view in perspective of the connestor for use with Athe individual links.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VIIf-VIIof' Figure 1the view looking in the direction ofi the arrows, the connector being omitted at the left hand side of the respective links, the view being on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figure 8` is al sectional view taken along the line XIII-XIII ofV FigureY 2, the view looking in the direction of the arrows. the view being on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Figurev 9 is a side-view illustrating the means forconnecting one end of the expansible bracelet to an. object to.l be supported thereby.

Figure 10 isV a top planrview, partly in section and partly broken away., showing the means whereby the bracelet isattached tothe object to be supportedthereby Figure 1l is a top view ofthe connecting means.

Figures l2, 131' and 14 illustrate, respectively,

the steps whereby the connecting means is to be attached to the object to be supported thereby.

Figure 15 is a side view depicting the object to be supported by the bracelet in its final position relative to the connecting means.

Figure 16 is a side view of a modified form of connector.

Figure 17 is a side view of yet a further form of connector, and

Figure 18 is a top plan view showing the bracelet attached to a wrist watch, the bracelet being illustrated on a smaller scale.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figure l, the bracelet comprises an outer row of hollow links I0, an inner row of similar links Il, a leaf spring I2 located within each of the links Ill and I I, and a connector I4 for interconnecting the links of the respective rows.

Each of the links III and II is open at each side thereof, and while the drawings illustrate the links as being elliptical, it is, of course, to be understood that they may be of any desired configuration in order to adapt the bracelet to particular tastes desired.

The links I I of the inner row, that is to say the row which will be in engagement with the wrist of the wearer, are staggered with relation to the links II! of the outer row with respect to the longitudinal direction of the bracelet. It can be seen from Figure 1 that in the retracted position, the transverse mid point of each of the links II will be in alinement with the abutting ends of the links I of the outer row. As will later be more fully discussed, this means that when the links are extended, the gap between the ends of the adjacent links I0 will be filled by link Il which is connected to the adjacent links Ill.

The spring I2 is of the leaf type and, as shown in Figures and 6, the spring is bent at approximately its mid point to provide a pair of diverging legs I2A and I2B, the free ends of the legs I2A and I2B terminating in an upwardly bent end portion I3. The spring I2 is of such length that when it is inserted into each of the links I0 and II, the outer ends thereof will be approximately ilush with the open sides of the links and the angle of the legs I2A and I2B is such that the upwardly bent ends will be spaced a very slight distance from the inner wall of the link.

The connector I4 is U-shaped as shown in Figure 4 and includes a web IIIA and legs I5 and I6. The outer surface of the web I4 and the legs I5 and I6 is convex, while the inner surfaces of the respective parts is planar, as perhaps more clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. In these same figures, it will be noted that the legs I5 and I6 are of greater width than thickness, the purpose of which will be more fully described. Each of the legs I5 and I6 in proximity to their point of juncture with the web MA is provided with a notch or cut-out portion I1 and IB so that when the connectors are inserted into the open sides of the links Ill and II, the upwardly bent ends I3 will t into the notches to thus anchor the connectors to the links.

In assembling the bracelet, the leg I5 is inserted into one of the open sides of one of the links Ill, and the leg IB is inserted into the side of the link II. A second connector is then inserted into the adjacent side of another link I0, while the leg IB thereof is inserted into the side of the link II. In lieu of the foregoing assembly steps, the legs I5 of two connectors can be simultaneously inserted into the open side of a link I Il for engagement by the bent end I3 of the spring,

4 while the legs I5 of the connectors are fitted into adjacent sides of a pair of links II of the inner row. Needless to say, regardless of the technique employed in inserting the connectors into one of the open sides of the links I0 and Il, a similar procedure is used for fitting the connectors into the other open side of the links and after the requisite number of links have been thus connected, it is manifest that the links can be extended against the action of the springs I2, the legs of the individual connectors functioning as pivots, and when extended, the link II of the inner row between adjacent links I0 of the outer row will fill the gap between the links I0, thus giving the effect of a continuous band structure.

It will also be observed that the thickness of the legs I5 and I6 is so dimensioned as to correspond to the inside height of the links III and II, which means that when the legs are moved into the links, the springs I2 will receive a slight preliminary tension (see Figure '2). This will cause the connectors to be pressed into the approximately vertical position illustrated in Figure 1 and thus urge the links closely together. However, the individual springs I2 will remain with the legs I2A and I2B extending angularly (Figure 7) whereby the legs I5 and I6 of the links are supported properly within the links yet are capable of pivotal action with respect to the links. When the bracelet is extended, the connectors I4 are pivoted whereby the legs I5 and I6 turn and thus exert a pressure upon the ends of the spring I2, thereby flattening the spring. Hence, when the extending or expanding force is relieved on the braceletl the springs I2 will again turn the legs I5 and I6 and thus force the links I0 and II of the outer and inner rows together to the position shown in Figure l. With further respect to the leaf springs I2, it should be stressed that the springs function to hold the connectors in the hollow links III and II and also serve to oppose the rotation of the legs I5 and I6 of the connectors in the links. Consequently, it is important that the legs of the connector have a greater width than thickness so that upon rotation of the legs in the links, the leaf spring I2 is pressed flat. Of course, when the pull is relieved upon the bracelet, the connectors are returned to the initial position to contract the bracelet as mentioned above. Of course, during these movements, the grip of the upwardly bent ends I3 of the leaf spring is maintained in the notches I'I and I3 provided in the legs I5 and I6 of the connector.

Thus it will be seen that a relatively small flattening of the leaf springs effects a strong oscillating movement of the connectors so that with a small wear of the springs, a large extension of the bracelet is achieved.

It will be appreciated, therefore. that the present expansible bracelet is relatively simple, both as to structural detail and operation, and can be readily assembled or disassembled by inexperienced personnel. The band per se merely includes three individual parts, namely the links, the leaf springs, and the connectors, and by virtue of the structural details of the connectors and the springs, the bracelet can be assembled without any permanent connections. thereby overcoming an objectionable characteristic of the prior art wherein the salient features of the bracelet were secured together by means of soldering, riveting and the like. Furthermore, the use of the leaf spring insures that there is little, if any, likelihood of the spring losing its resiliency assenso ver'eactended periods ofuse, nor is this spring liable-te breaie, as is the case of coii springs so frequently-used tor-expansible'bracelets or watch bands:

In'order toattach the ends-u of the bracelet to af watch case or the like, such as indicated at 21 inx Figure 18; theopposite ends of the bracelet support a connecting link, denoted generally i9, in Figures Sfanci'v 4. The-connecting link I9A comprisesfa sheet metal strip fabricated to denne a pai-r or adjacent loopsor sleeves 2l) and 2i, the sleeve 2i!!A being approximately one-haii" the size UFtholinl-s IUso that itA will overlie the outer link l'loif the innerrow (Figure 9) the sleeve 20 being adapted' to receive the leg |5 of the connector I4, and the leg can be xed to the sleeve by soldering; but this is not necessary, since the connector, that is'A to say the leg I8-of the connector is held" he the: outermost link Il by means of the spring Il?. Theseeve 25| has a width dimension corresponding tothe width dimensions of both rows cf'llniis, and a slot 22 is provided in proximity teY each free end of the sleeve, the free end being Bent-outwardly, asl shown at 23, for receiving a slide cover 2t.

Asshownin Figures and 15', the watch case 21 is provided withI a pair of arms 26, the arms being. connected by a transversely extending membern. 'I'he member 25 is adapted to be received by the sleeve 2l, and Figures 12 to 15, inclusive show: the steps of inserting and attaching the member 25 and, as a consequence, the watch case to the band. More specifically, the cover Wis1 removed from the open end of the sleeve 211 andthe member 25` turned through an angie of 9U: degreeswith respect to the position shownl in Figure 1'5. The member 25 is then inserted into-the sleeve 2|, after which the cover 2i# isagain appliedr to the open end of the sleeve Zi. Thereafter, the member 251s again turned 90 degrees in the direction of the arrows shown in lligunesv 13* and 1'4` until it assumes the position illustrated in Figure 15. In this position, it can be seen: that the inner faces of the arms 26 will prevent any longitudinal sliding movement of the cover: 24 and thus prevent the cover from accidenmlly leaving the open end of the sleeve 2l.

Figures-t6 and I''disclose two further forms of connectorszwhich may be used, and in Figure 16 it can be seen that the'sleeve 20A is disposed equidlstantly of the endwalls of the sleeve 21A, while in Figure 1'7 sleeves 20B and 2IB are provided withY planar walls rather than curved walls as is the-case: of Figure 16.

1i. In an expansible linkage having two rows of overlapping, staggered links, each link being disposed generally transversely to the longitudinal center line of the linkage when viewed from the top, the improvement comprising a rst link in the rst row of links having an opening extending into at least one side. an interconnecting member'liaving a leg extending into said opening in a direction generally transverse to the longitudinal center line of the linkage and having means spaced from said leg for rotatably connecting the interconnecting member to the corresponding side of an adjacent link in the second row ofv links, means rotatably connected at the Vopposite sides of said first link and said adjacent link for connecting said sides together, whereby when the linkage is stretched longitudinally from contracted towardan expanded position said rst link and said. adjacent link are displacedl relative to, each. other` longitudinally of the linkage and lil said legis rotated relative to thev walls off' sami irst link, resilient means l'ocated withiny saldi opening in said first link andY biased between one: wall of said rst link and said leg for engaging said leg and for resiliently urgingY and wedgingg: said leg against a longitudinalY wall of. said rst' link in a direction generally transverse tov the axis of said leg, a portion of saidleg located. be-1 tween said resilient means and said'longitudinal. wall of said first link during rotation of the leg.` including means for occupying an increasingly. greater distance between said resilient means and said longitudinal wall of said first links as; said leg is rotatedduring movement of saidrst link and said adjacent link from their contracted towards their expanded positions, whereby said. resilient means and said means for occupying an increasingly greater distance cooperate tor urge the linkage from an expanded toward a contracted position.

2. An expansible linkage according to claim 1', wherein said resilient means comprises a leaf. spring, which engages the leg and is compressed by the rotation of the leg during movementI ot the links from contracted toward expanded post-` tions.

3. An expansible linkage according to claim 1, wherein the leg of the interconnecting member is provided with a notched area, and the resilient means comprises a leaf spring having an oset portion at the end which is adjacent to said notched area of the leg and which is adapted to be sprung into said notched area to retain the leg Within the first link.

4. An expansible linkage according to claimy l, wherein the leg of the interconnecting member is provided with a notched areaV and the resilient means-comprises a leaf spring extending longitudinally of the rst link and having an angularly disposed area intermediate the ends of said first link engaging one wall of the rst link and an oiiset portion at the end which is adjacent to the notched area of the leg, whereby the offset portion of the spring is urged into the notched area of the leg by the action of the angularly disposed area of the spring against the adjacent wall of the iirst link.

5. An expansible linkage according to claim 1, wherein the means for occupying an increasingly greater distance between said resilient means and said longitudinal wall of said first link cornprises a portion of said leg of the interconnecting member which is of greater width than thickness.

6. In an expansible linkage having at least two rows of overlapping, staggered links, each link being disposed generally transversely to the'longitudinal center line of the linkage when viewed from the top, the improvement comprising a first link having an opening extending into at least one side, an interconnecting member having. a leg extending into said opening in said one side of said first link and having means spaced from said leg for rotatably connecting the interconnecting member to the corresponding side oi an adjacent link in the second row of links, means rotatably connected at the opposite sides of said first link and said adjacent link for connecting said sides together, so that when said linkage is stretched longitudinally from contracted towards expanded position said iirst link and said adjacent link are displaced relative to each other longitudinally of the linkage by rotation of said interconnecting member and turning movement of said leg within said first link to thereby increase the length of and expand the linkage, the maximum dimension generally transversely of said leg in one direction being greater than the maximum dimension generally transversely thereof in another direction and when the linkage is in a contracted position said maximum dimension of said leg extending generally longitudinally of the linkage, and resilient means located within said first link and biased between a wall of said first link and said leg for engaging said leg and resiliently urging and wedging said leg against a longitudinal wall of said first link, whereby the turning movement of said leg in said rst link which results upon rotation of said interconnecting member during stretching of the linkage is opposed by said resilient means and said linkage is urged towards a contracted position.

'7. An expansible linkage comprising at least two rows of staggered, overlapping links, the links of at least one of said rows being hollow and having open sides, each link of said rows of links being disposed transversely to the longitudinal center line of the linkage, interconnecting means having legs extending into one open side of each of said hollow links of the first row for interconnecting each of said hollow links of the first row with the two adjacent links in the adjacent row of links, means rotatably connected at the opposite sides of each of said hollow links of the iirst row and two adjacent links of the adjacent row for connecting such sides together, whereby when the ends of the linkage are stretched longitudinally from a contracted to an expanded position the links of each row are displaced longitudinally by rotation of said interconnecting means and turning movement of said legs within said hollow links results, resilient means, located within each of said hollow links of the first row and biased between one wall of said hollow link and at least one of said legs, for engaging said leg and for resiliently urging and wedging said leg against a longitudinal wall of said hollow link in a direction generally transverse to the axis of said leg, the portion of said leg which is located between said resilient means and said wall including means for prying said resilient means in a direction away from said wall and against the force exerted on said portion of said leg by said resilient means as said leg is turned during movement of said hollow links and said adjacent links from contracted towards expanded position, whereby said resilient means and said means for prying said resilient means away from said wall cooperate to urge the linkage from an expanded towards a contracted position.

8. An expansible linkage comprising spaced rows of links, each link having an opening extending into at least one side, the rows of links being disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the linkage, one row of links being arranged above the adjacent row of links, the links of one row being staggered and overlapping with respect to the links of the adjacent row, means for interconnecting each of the links of one row with two adjacent links of the adjacent row, said interconnecting means comprising a pair of U-shaped members, one leg of each U- shaped member extending into the said opening in the side of a link in one row and the other leg extending into the corresponding opening in the side of an adjacent link in the adjacent row, means rotatably connected at the opposite sides oi said link in one row and the two adjacent links of the adjacent row for connecting said sides together, whereby each link of one row is connected with two adjacent links in the adjacent row and when the ends of the linkage are stretched longitudinally from a contracted towards an expanded position the links of each row are displaced longitudinallyT and said U-shaped members are rotated and turning movement oi' said legs within said links results, each of said legs having a resilient means engaging portion which is of greater width than thickness, and resilient means, disposed within each of the links and biased between a wall of said link and the engagement portions of the legs which are located within the link for engaging said engagement portions and resiliently urging and Wedging said legs against a longitudinal wall of said link in a direction generally transverse to the axes of said legs, said U-shaped members, when the linkage is contracted, being positioned with the greater widths of their legs lying in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the legs are urged by the resilient means, whereby the turning movement of the legs which results from rotation of the U-shaped members during expansion of the linkage is opposed by said resilient means and said linkage is normally urged towards a contracted position.

9. An expansible linkage comprising spaced rows or links, each link having an opening extending into each side thereof, the rows of links being disposed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the linkage, one row of links being arranged above the adjacent row of links, the links of one row being staggered and overlapping with respect to the links of the adjacent row, means for interconnecting each of the links oi one row with two adjacent links of the adjacent row, said interconnecting means comprising a pair of U-shaped members, one leg of each U- shaped member extending into the opening in one side of a link in one row and the other leg extending into the corresponding opening in the side of an adjacent link in the adjacent row, a second pair of U-shaped members, one leg of each of said second U-shaped members extending into the opening in the opposite side of said link in one row and the other leg extending into the corresponding opening in the side of said adjacent link in the adjacent row, whereby each link of one row is connected with two adjacent links in the adjacent row and when the ends oi the linkage are stretched longitudinally from a contracted towards an expanded position the links of each row are displaced longitudinally and said U-shaped members are rotated and turning movement of said legs within said links results, each of said legs having a spring engaging portion which is of greater width than thickness, and a leaf spring, disposed within each of the links, said spring being bent intermediate its ends with its bent portion resting against a longitudinal wall of said link, one of the ends of said spring engaging the legs of the U-shaped members extending into the opening in one side of the link to wedge such legs against a longitudinal wall of said link and the other end of the spring engaging the legs oi said second pair oi U-shaped members which extend into the opening in the opposite side of said link to wedge the last mentioned legs against a longitudinal wall of said link, so that said spring resiliently urges and wedges said legs against the longitudinal wall oi' the link in a direction generally transverse to the axes of the legs, said U-shaped members, when the linkage is contracted, being positioned with the greater widths o! their legs lying in a direction generally transverse to the direction in which the legs are urged by the spring, whereby turning movement of the legs which results from rotation of the U-shaped members during expansion of the linkage is opposed by said spring and said linkage is normally urged towards a contracted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number 10 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany July 25, 1930 Switzerland Jan. 14, 1946 France Feb. 9, 1948 Switzerland Nov. 4, 1908 

